Rupprecht Augenstein

Rupprecht Augenstein (died April 1945) was a Waffen-SS officer during World War II. Augenstein, a convinced fascist and Nazi Party member, was responsible for hanging numerous young children in the town of Kirchohsen and placing placards on them stating that they were cowards and that they had refused to fight for their country as the Allies invaded. When the US 2nd Armored Division advanced on the town, Augenstein led several of the young child soldiers in the defense of the town, and he was wounded in the left arm. He was convinced to surrender by the burgermeister and the American soldiers, and US Army sergeant Don Collier had one of his men execute Augenstein for hanging the children. Augenstein was sprayed by gunfire from the soldier's submachine gun while defiantly giving him a Hitler salute.